How Nice is a Metal Band Saw?

[Iplayfarmer]

I have the opportunity to get a used metal cutting band saw. It's a Duracraft that will likely need some repairs. The guy said it keeps throwing blades and there's some wobble in one of the bearings. I think the price is right, but my question is whether it will be worth the space and time I'll spend to repair it. Space and time are both at a premium in my tiny shop and busy life. I'll give up the space if it will save me time and/or turn out a better product. Having never used one, I'm relying on the opinions of others to tell me how nice a band saw is to use.

My current metal cutting tool selection includes a 14" cut-off saw, an assortment of angle grinders, and an O/A torch outfit.

 

[sweettractors]

I have the opportunity to get a used metal cutting band saw. It's a Duracraft that will likely need some repairs. The guy said it keeps throwing blades and there's some wobble in one of the bearings. I think the price is right, but my question is whether it will be worth the space and time I'll spend to repair it. Space and time are both at a premium in my tiny shop and busy life. I'll give up the space if it will save me time and/or turn out a better product. Having never used one, I'm relying on the opinions of others to tell me how nice a band saw is to use.

My current metal cutting tool selection includes a 14" cut-off saw, an assortment of angle grinders, and an O/A torch outfit.

They can be very handy in a shop. I love the portable band saw, it saves a lot of acetylene and Oxygen for us. My main concern would be the availability of a standard length blade to fit that machine. They are a booger to weld together out of a roll of blade stock? Ken Sweet

 

[zzvyb6]

What type of metal cutting would you be doing with it? I use a torch, a chop saw, a metal blade in a table saw and a die grinder to cut sheet, slab, angle and rod. Steel, aluminum and cast iron. What's the advantage to me for a band saw?

 

[sweettractors]

What type of metal cutting would you be doing with it? I use a torch, a chop saw, a metal blade in a table saw and a die grinder to cut sheet, slab, angle and rod. Steel, aluminum and cast iron. What's the advantage to me for a band saw?

The advantages of a band saw in the shop is the ability to cut multiple pieces of angle, round or channel stock when doing fabricating work. Ken Sweet

 

[JCB]

Iplay,

It probably takes a standard 64-1/2" blade. No big deal. If you do a decent amount of fabricating a bandsaw is a necessity, and as Ken mentioned it can save a lot of torch work.

If you only rarely hack a piece of metal in two, stick with your chop box. That said if you do give the bandsaw some floorspace you probably won't want to use your chop box ever again (clean cut, accurate, quiet, no sparks, you can walk away in the middle of a cut)....

Joe

 

[sweettractors]

Iplay,

It probably takes a standard 64-1/2" blade. No big deal. If you do a decent amount of fabricating a bandsaw is a necessity, and as Ken mentioned it can save a lot of torch work.

If you only rarely hack a piece of metal in two, stick with your chop box. That said if you do give the bandsaw some floorspace you probably won't want to use your chop box ever again (clean cut, accurate, quiet, no sparks, you can walk away in the middle of a cut)....

Joe

Since I had a lung to collapse in 1968 while dry grinding on a surface grinder, I try to stay away from those cuttings from chop saws and angle grinders etc. where possible. Ken Sweet

 

[Renze]

I just warn you: just be sure what you're getting yourself into !!

Once you have a band saw, you'll need a new one if this one breaks down, because you dont want to be near the noise and smell of an abrasive saw anymore !!

 

[GT2]

I consider my chop saw indispensable, however my little hroz / vertical band saw is priceless when cutting odd shapes. I use it about 99% of the time in the vertical position.
A lot of people say just use a torch, but then you have to deal with a hot part and a lot of grinding / sanding to produce a quality part.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Thanks for all the replies so far.

I did a bit of fabrication with just an angle grinder. When I stepped up to a chop saw, the difference in my fit and finish was amazing. If a band saw can make that much of a difference over a chop saw, I'm in all the way.

What do I look for? I won't go look at it for a few days due to the weather, holiday, etc. Are there any good indications that I'll be in over my head on the repair? Is Duracraft a good brand?

 

[LD1]

I say it depends on how big it is.

I have a little $200 one from TSC that takes the 64-1/2 blades. It is really handy when dealing with light wall tubing, but for heavy wall, I go for the torches everytime. The bandsaw is just too slow. And heavywall tube doesn't have to be exactally perfect when using a MIG to get a good weld.

So if it is a smaller bandsaw, and you work with a lot of 1/8" and thinner material, they are perfect. But if you are good with torches and work with 1/4" and thicker material, I dont think you will get much use out of it. After seeing how long it takes to make cuts in thicker material, you will probabally go back to the torches like I do.